Cannes

Since 2004, the Cannes Film Festival has been a landscape in giving access to a wide selection of international short films, at their SFC (Short Film Corner). This year is no exception and a short film that caught our eyes was “Baher, Her Mind”.

Writer Reza Tafakor brings us the journey of a young Iranian woman, after she falls suspicious of her husband’s potential affair with another woman. Seeking the truth, Baher sinks into this delusional state of mind, where imagination and reality become unclear. To find the truth, she looks for signs everywhere and when she sees her fate in the coffee fortune telling, her mental world is destroyed and she suspects the people around her more.

Debut director to look out for, Hassan Akhoundpour, explains "Because of her culture, economy, politics, and tradition, the Iranian woman has numerous doubts that do not let her have peace of mind. These doubts have caused a big pessimism in her life; pessimism about fate, love, and everything that goes around her. She must kill the demons in her mind every day but they come back to life again. Even the smile and happiness of her friends and her lover do not interest her and no surprise makes her astounded.
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One cannot help but be mesmerized by the 25 minute film, where there is no use of dialog, allowing us to immerse in this young woman’s expedition. Accompanied by an outstanding score of composer Karen Homayunfar, you relive every deep moment of her explorations.

Applying different universes, use of animals, supernatural and dreamy stages of the character’s mind, the film is artistically well stylized. The camera’s gaze with areal shots throughout the fim and spanning the viewer through incredible locations in Tehran achieves a unique look. In addition, there are action scenes, with special effects in a high speed car race.

Delivering a remarkable performance is known actress Mahtab Keramat. Among the noticeable cast is also veteran talented actor Mani Haghighi.

“Bayer, Her Mind” had it’s world premiere at the Festival Corner, 69th Festival de Cannes, May 19th.

Find more information of the film here

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Hasan-Akhondpour/1422550034626946

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Film review by Lia Fietz